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Melissa Reaves’ 14th Annual Holiday Show at The Local Takes Place Friday and Saturday

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Reaves lit up like a Christmas tree at a past annual holiday show in Boone. Her creativity spans more than music as she creates the costumes, too.

By Jesse Wood

Each fall, Melissa Reaves hits the road after the Halloween show with Bafoodus at the Boone Saloon and travels to Arizona, where she lives half of the year, and plays several sets at the Sidepony Express Music Festival.

“Then I have a week to catch my breath and at which time I start to prep for the holiday shows,” Reaves said on Tuesday, as she was about to walk out the door to travel to a show in South Carolina later this evening.

This weekend, Reaves will play at The Local on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 11 and 12, beginning at 8 p.m. both nights, as part of her annual holiday show now in its 14th year. This is the third year that Reaves’ holiday show is a two-night feast for music lovers.

“I am grateful to the community for supporting two nights,” Reaves said, adding that sometimes its “time to go and grow and you know, at some point you have to say what the hell and go for it.”

Reaves will perform with Bill Stevens, Cody Wright, Chaiseray Schenck, Dustin Hoffsess, The Holiday Horns and DJ Hamilton. Reaves described all the musicians as phenomenal. Wright and Schenk, for example, play drums and bass in Jonathan Scales Fourchestra.

Both shows will be holiday-themed funk shows, Reaves said.

She added that funk music brightens up the holiday season, which for some can be daunting, hectic or lonely. And funk music with a holiday twist is even cheerier.

“I honestly feel like it’s a wonderful time of year,” Reaves said. “And for a lot of people, it’s a funky time of year. It can be a hard time of year.”

Reaves said that whether folks are crazed after holiday shopping and holiday traffic or whether folks may not have that steady support system, the annual holiday show by Reaves and company is a place where folks can come and “chill out and dance.”

As Reaves said, it’s a fun time for the musicians, the audience and everyone involved.

Seating for both shows is limited. Both nights have sold out in the past. Tickets cost $14 in advance and $15 at the door. To ensure a seat, call The Local, which is located on Howard Street in Downtown Boone, at 828-266-2179.

These two nights also benefit the third annual High Country Toy Drive. A donation jar and toy box will be on site and proceeds or toys will go toward the Children’s Hope Alliance and the Hospitality House of Boone.

Based in Boone, Reaves is an incredible talent. While she won’t be playing guitar (because her homemade holiday costumes won’t allow it), Reaves will blow the audience away with her vocals.

Reaves has shared the stage with Robert Plant, Sarah MacLachlan, Leon Russell, Sheryl Crow, Cyndi Lauper, Sister Sledge, Gloria Gaynor, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Doc Watson, Little Feat and more.

For more about Reaves, click here.